MEP AND FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PAYS TRIBUTE TO COAST GUARD PERSONNEL

Mairead McGuinness MEP and First Vice-President of the European Parliament has expressed her condolences to the families of Irish coast guard personnel, Captain Dara Fitzpatrick and the missing chief pilot Mark Duffy from Dundalk, Co Louth and winchmen Paul Ormsby and Ciarán Smith from north Co Dublin.

“This is a truly devastating tragedy that is impacting the whole country and beyond. The sadness of life cut so short and the catastrophic loss for family and community is hard to come to terms with.

“All our thoughts are with them. And we hope and pray that the ongoing and impressive rescue efforts will be successful quickly in recovering Captain Fitzpatrick’s colleagues.

“What these community servants have achieved in their lives and knowing how deeply it is valued will, no doubt, be a source of consolation at this very tough time and into the future,” she said.

Ms McGuinness also said discovering the cause of the helicopter crash is important.